Manager of Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy Mohammed Ahmednoor said in a statement: "This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe.

Credit: Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy

"It's killing is a blow to the tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species and a wake-up call for continued support to conservation efforts."

He added: "This is a long-term loss given that genetics studies and research which were significant investment into the area by researchers, has now gone to the drain. Also, the white giraffe was a big boost to tourism in the area."

Commenting on the surviving white giraffe, Ahmednoor said: "After this incident, only a lone bull remains."

The pure white giraffes hit headlines in 2018 when photographs of them were shared online.

A post from the Hirola Conservation Programme at the time commented that the animals 'were so close and extremely calm and seemed not disturbed by our presence'.

It went on: "The mother kept pacing back and forth a few yards in front of us while signalling the baby giraffe to hide behind the bushes."

Their unusual colouring was caused by a genetic condition called leucism, which stops pigmentation to some cells; it is similar, but different to albinism, in which no melanin is produced at all. Unlike albino animals, those with leucism have dark eyes.

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]